Some people are under the misconception that the property or business owner must compensate them if they injured themselves in a slip and fall accident. However, this is not necessarily true. The owner’s negligence must have caused the fall. Here, we share four questions that need to be answered when determining if your claim is valid.

Question #1: Did You Fall Because of an Unsafe Condition?

You must prove that an unsafe condition on the property caused your slip and fall. The property owner must also have created this unsafe condition or allowed it to exist on the property. Examples of dangerous conditions include:

Ice and snow on parking lots and sidewalks

Spills of food and liquids

Torn or worn carpeting

Broken handrails

Potholes and asphalt cracks

Insufficient lighting

Question #2: Did the Owner Have Notice of the Defect?

You not only must show that a dangerous condition existed on the property, but also that the owner knew or should have reasonably known about it and failed to take corrective measures. This can be one of the most challenging things to prove when filing a slip and fall case. Retaining an experienced premises liability attorney is essential because he will know the types of evidence to collect to establish this.

Question #3: Did the Property Owner Post Warnings?

If an owner knows of an unsafe condition but is unable to correct it immediately, he has a duty to post signs or block off the area to warn guests. When this is not done, he can be found negligent—and responsible for compensating you for your injuries if this caused your fall.

Question #4: Did You Exercise Reasonable Care?

You also have a duty to minimize the risk that you will have a slip and fall accident. This includes being conscious of your surroundings and obvious dangers and not to enter areas where there are warning signs posted.

While it is good to consider the answers to these questions when deciding whether you have a valid claim, it is best to discuss your accident with a skilled premises liability attorney who can properly evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Take advantage of our offer of a free initial consultation to learn about your legal options and how we will aggressively fight for the compensation that you deserve. Fill out our convenient online form to schedule your appointment today.

As just about any expectant mother can tell you, pregnancy is scary. Along with the dramatic changes your body goes through, there’s also the unknown of how the baby is doing. So many problems can occur, it’s enough to make any mother-to-be a bundle of nerves.

Gestational diabetes is just one of the many complications that can occur during pregnancy. This potentially life-threatening disorder occurs as the result of hormone changes during pregnancy. Over time, the changes lead to progressive glucose intolerance, which can result in gestational diabetes.

Are You Predisposed to Gestational Diabetes?

Although doctors should check all pregnant women for gestational diabetes, some patients should be considered high-risk for the condition. Your chances of having the disorder are increased if:

Your parents or siblings have diabetes

You are 20 percent or more over your ideal body weight prior to becoming pregnant

You have had gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies

You are African-American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian

You have previously given birth to a baby who weighed nine pounds or more

You have given birth to a stillborn baby in the past

Did Your Doctor Fail to Diagnose You?

Women who have gestational diabetes typically don’t exhibit any symptoms of the condition, except those found through urine and blood testing, and may not know about it until it is too late. Untreated gestational diabetes can cause life-long problems for your unborn child, including diabetes, Erb’s palsy, and cerebral palsy.

It is your doctor’s responsibility to take care of you and your child, and when that doesn’t happen, you can take action. The legal team of Tavss Fletcher may be able to help you receive the compensation you deserve to help pay for current and future medical treatments that are needed because of the undiagnosed condition. Contact us today to learn how we have helped others in the Norfolk area and how we may be able to do the same for you.

Tavss Fletcher proudly serves Virginia and North Carolina, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, the Eastern Shore counties of Accomack and Northampton, and Gloucester, Surry, Southampton, Isle of Wight, James City and York counties in Virginia, and the counties of Currituck, Dare, Gates, Herford, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Camden and Bertie in Northeastern North Carolina.